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From To be relsased
Friends of Irish Freedom Thursday, January 29, 1920.
National Bureau of Information Willard De Lue
Chief, Section of Information
WASHINGTON -~ The Friends of Irish Freedom National Bureau
of Information today made public a commmication just received by
President de Valera from Archbishop J. M. Harty of the Archdiocese of
Cashel, in which the distinguished Irish prelate expresses his opinion
of British attempts to rule Ireland and enclosed his check for 50
pounds as a contribution to the Irish National Loan. The letter follows:
"My dear de Valera:
"To you, the trusted Representative of the Irish people,
I send the enclosed cheque for 50 pounds as my contribution
to the Irish National Loan. Here at home the British Govern-
ment has continued to trample on the principles of democracy.
‘Ireland is in a state of political and industrial bond~
age. Our press is muzzled. Our fairs and markets are stopped.
Our exhibitions of industries are prohibited. Our National
games are banned. Our literary and mtsical festivals are pro-
claimed. Even Princes of the Church are asked to guarantee
that they are not criminals before they are allowed to use
their motor cars.
"The British Government proposes to place rrish education
under the domination of foreign reactionaries who are out of
sympathy with the national ideals of the Irish people.
"Sinn Fein, the Gaelic League and kindred societies are
suppressed, and the lie is told that they are responsible for
crimes. Our homes are raided by armed forces of the British
Crown. Our streets are paraded by a huge army of occupation.
Our elected representatives are not allowed to meet in our
Irish Parliament, and some of them have been deported in
British gunboats.
"These are some of the activities of the British Govern-
ment which has loudly proclaimed its respect for the liberties
of small nations.
"I wish you every blessing in your noble efforts to right
the wrongs of centuries, and to free Ireland from the blighting
influence of foreign rule.
"Y am, my dear Mr. de Valera,
"Yours very faithfully,
(Signed) "J. M. HARTY,
"Archbishop of Cashel."
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